Electric switch



2 1927. 1,622,907 March B. E. GETCHELL ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April e,1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 &

w w l Inn 115 INVENTQR Benjamin .E'. Getche ll,

March 29 1927.

, B. ..}E. GETCHEL'L ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 6,1925 4 Sheets-Sheet2.

lllllllllllllllll Benjamin L. Gtahll,

March 2 B. E. GETCHELL ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 6, 1925 4Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTQR Benjamin L. GetaheII,

B. E. GETCHELL March 29 ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 6', 1925 4Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIIIIIIIIIII lllllllllllll I'll I'lllllllllll INVENTORBenjamin L". Getchell,

Patented Mar. 29,1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAM IN E. GETCHELL, OF PIiAIINVILIiE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB-TO THETBUI- BULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMRANY. OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A

'conronarron or CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

' Application and April 8, 1925. Serial m. 20,931.

' My invention relates, particularly to switches which can be rated byhand and l which. are adapted to aut matically open the circuit-in caseof short circuits or dangerous overloads.

- The main object is to do away with the useof fuses such as arecustomarily provided and to make it possible to safely restore serviceafter an overload or short circuit without the trouble and hazard ofrenewing fuses.

' Another ob'ect is to provide a construction of this typem which thecircuit cannot be held closed against a dangerous overload or shortcircuit but which can be held closed 1 long enough to inconsequential sort; circuits to be burned out and thus permitting service to berestored without delay. I

Another object isv to provide an automatic overload switchwithouttheuse-of magnetic coils which'are not only eiipensive butfrequently produce objectionable humming [when used on alternatingcurrent, circuits. Another'object is to provide an automatic 2 trippingmeans which will positively 0 en the circuit independently of the switch0 osing means.

. Another object is toprovide. a slight time lag element so as toprevent unnecessary so opening-of the circuit on 'at'emporary-ornondangerous overload.

Another object is to eliminate the fire and personal hazard caused by.the increasing tendency on the part of ignorant and ma- 3 liciouspersons to-substitute coins or pieces I of metal in, the place of theordinary fuses.

Ll carrying out the invention I provide a manually operable switchmember for open-' ing and closing the circuit and'combine with thismechanism a thermostatic deviceso con- 1 'structed and arranged withrespect to the manually operable mechanism that the circuit will beopened automatically in case of I a dangerousoverload-or short;.circuit.The

4 manually operablemechanism isso con structed that this circuit openingaction can occur automatically even t ough the operator attempts to,hold the switch closed by hand.,, The parts are so constructed howeverthat the switch cannot be closed again after the lautomatic openingwithout first return-' ing the hand operated parts to the normal opencircuit position thus assuring a com ermit temporary local or plete testof the o erativeness of the device.

The invention is susceptible of em'bodiment in various forms andarrangements. In the accompanying four sheets of drawings I haveillustrated the preferred form of mechanism and two simple arrangements.

1 is a front view of an enclosed type switch embodying one form of theimprove ments of my invention, the cover being omitted. a i a Fig. 2' isa longitudinal sectional view and side elevation on the general plane ofthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the in the closed circuit positlon. a

Fig, 3 is a transverse sectional view on the parts being shown plane ofthe line 3- 3 of Fig. 1 looking up-' wardly, the cover being shown inplace.

Fig. 4 1s a similar sectional view showin the. construction and arranement in whic parts Fig.- 9 is an enlargediragmentary 'seetionis aplan-view of the parts in the al view showing the means of supportingthe I main switch arm contact member.-

Fig. 10 is another longitudinal sectional iview and side elevation ofthe switchparts in the position which they wouldoccupy just as thecircuit is brokenby the automatic thermal tripping or release action.and also showing in dotted'linesthe position of the; switch armandtoggle'li-nks in their positionof rest after such opening action a dbefore the hand operated mechanism has; been" re- Fig. 11 is aperspective view of a single circuitpos'ition corresponding to Fig.5; I

Fig. 12; is a perspective new of thecurrent carrying parts ofa" singleswitch unit 1 I 105 Fig; 13 is a perspective view of an 'e'n shown inthe closed circuit position.

turned to its normal open circuit position. I x.

unit of switch mechanism in 'a normal open I I I. 16, tip 24contactofcontact is more fully shown and described.

in my co-pending application No. 20,611, filed April 4, 1925. It shouldbe understood however that the invention herein claimed is notr'limi tedto the particular I construction of'contact elements. In the form shownfor the purpose of illustration the contact arm 16- 1s p voted on a inor shaft 18 which is supported in a yo e or bracket .19. The sides ofthe arm are pressed outwardly against the sldesof the bracket by meansof a spring 20 20 so as to provide a uniformcontact ment between the armand its support. I he support 19 may be secured to the insulating base15 by means of a screw 21. The spring 22 tends to throw the switch armto the open circuit pos1tion shown in Figs. 5 and 11. A sleeve 23 ma fbe interposed between the springs 20 an 22 to prevent interference onewith the other. The end or tip 24 of the con- I tact-arm is preferablyformed of metal especlally, adapted to serve as a contact surface I toengage. the other contact member 17. The latter is preferably supportedby a bracket 25 and has a pin 26 secured to it which extends looselythrough an opening in the bracket 25. A s ring 27 on this pin 26 holds Ithe contact-mem r 17 resiliently in position so that it can tilt aboutthe end of the I aracket 25 and twist sideways to permit it accommodateitself to the tip 24 of the '40 contact arm. The bracket 25 may besecured to the base b preferably provide a exible conductor 29 I or'lectrically connecting the contact 17 to the terminal member 30 whichis secured to the base 15 by the same screw 28 which secures the suporting bracket 25 in place. The other clrcuit terminal 31'of the switch1s secured in place by a screw- 32 which passes through the baseandscrews into the piece 9 33; A U-shaped bi-metallic thermostaticelement 34 has one end of one arm secured to the member 33 and thecorresponding end of the other 'arm secured to, an angular extension 35of the member. 36 which is connected to the sup rt 19 for the swingcontact .arm 16. When the switch is cl the circuit may be traced fromterminal 31 through screw 32, connection 33, thermo static element 34,35,36, 19,.arm

connector 29totermia screw 28. I- also nal 30 asown I .1 The .operleveris "pivotall ieu ported by a 'U- ich' i s 16 by a to (glemember'consisting of the two links 39 an 40. Theopposite ends of theselinks are hinged respectively to the lever 37 and arm. 16 and the"intermediate adjacent :ends of the links 39 and 40 are hinged togetherand preferably provided with a roller it is particularly useful in thatconnection.-

I have shown a box 44 with a suitable form is suitably supported forinof cover 45. The'crank is also preferably provided with some suitableform of manu ally operable device or handle 46. In the form shown thereare two units or switch elements as heretofore described. In Fig. 3

will be seen the operating lever37 of'the ri ht hand unit and theoperatin lever 37' of the corresponding left hand unit. I have alsoshown the invention as applied to a switch for a three wire circuit inwhich the neutral wire has a through connection 47 located between thetwo switch elements.

The insulating base 15 is preferably so constructed as to provideinsulating barriers such as 48 on opposite sidesof each switch unit soas to prevent arclng,

In thenormal' open circuit position the parts of the switch in operatingmechanism occupy the relative Itions as shown m Fi .5. Wlfen it is, sired to close the cir-- cult the. handle--46 is operatedso as to swing thecrank 43 and tilt thelever 37 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to thatshown in Fig." 6. The roller 41 travels along the surface" of thethermostatic element 34 and th'eswitch arm 16 engages the contact'member17 and ush'es it back until the joint be-' tween mem rs 37 and39 passesbelow the givotaxisof the-member 37 (as viewed in igs. 5 and 6). It willbe understood that these figuresactually show the switch upside downwith jres t to the positionsof Figs. 1, 2 and 3 an right side up withrespect to the position of the parts in Fig. 4. When once the jointbetween members 37 and 39 passes the 'center line of the toggle thespring 22 holds the parts in position.

- To open the circuit the handle 46 is moved in' the reverse directionand the lever 37 tilted'so asto 'br'eak'the toggle action and allow thespring-22 to return the parts to the normal open circuit position. J

When the partaare in the closed I I circuitposition of Flg.6theeve'rloading'of thecircuitcauses the heating of the thermostatic- Vmember 34 and a consequent warping'ofit so, as to force the roller 41away from the supportand break the toggle between the course as soon. asthe circuit is'o thermostatic member 34 will begin to cool and return toits normal straight position.

this 9' and 40 as shown in Fig; '10.- As

soon as the toggle is broken the *spring '22 throws the switch ar m andlinks 39 an 40 to the dotted [positions of: Fig. 10 even though theoperative crank 43 remains in itsition... 'Of,

apparently closed circuit I ned the To reset the switch it would benecessary to throw the handle and crank 4310 the open circuit position.When'the lever 37 is swung (left handed) from the positionof Fig. 10

a the spring 42 throws the link- 39 back into the position of Fig. 5, assoonas there is room enough for the toggle links 39 and40 to strai htenout and reverse themselves. It would understood of course that the sprin22 is stron enough tothrow the swit arm from e closed circuit to theopen circuit position against the resistance of the spring 42. p v r Inthe form shown in Fig. 4 the insulating base 50 carries the switch unitshaving operating levers '51 corresponding'to the, levers 37 and a crank52'correspondingvtothe crank 43. The construction and method ofoperation .however are the same as that-,above described.

I claim: f

1. In an oaerload switch-a movable switch member, an operating" member,a doubleEac tion toggleconnection between said switch member and said 0atingm'emberand 1 thermostatic means operate said toggle e connection toopen the circuit while t operating member is th s circuit position, I

2. In an overload switch'a fim bh w 3. In, an overload'switclija.movablelswitch member, an operating member, "afidouble toggle connectionbetweelisaidswitch mem her andsaid operating member, thermo static meansfor operatingone ,partcot the toggle and manual means for operating theother part of the toggle 4. In an overload switch a movable sw tch mber, a W g b r," d ubl toggle connectzon betweensaid'switchrmem-pberandlflaid even ng number; eifli b static ens part. ofsaid togglelfitmopri the circuit and spring means her to normaloperative position! 5. I an overload switch" m er a movable switch.connection between said switch saidqperating member,

operating membreaking the joint ofsaid toggle atone side of the togglecenters; and thermostatic means .for breakin the oint of said toggle atthe opposite side of te said toggle center.

operable n1 ember,'a jointed toggle link conncctmg said members and athermostatic member for moving said link and releasing said switchmember while the manually operable member is in the closed circuit posi-Hon.

7. A switch construction including a spring-pressed switch member, anoperatin member, a toggle connection between sai switch member and saidoperating member, a roller on said toggle connection, and a thermostaticmember serving as a bearing and a I stop for said roller on normalcircuit cond1- tions and to-move said roller to open the switch on.overload conditions. 1

,8. A switch construction including a spring-pressed switch member, anoperatin member, a link connected to said switc member, a link connectedto said operating member, a hinge joint'connecting said links,

a roller connected to said links, and a thermostatic member forsupporting said roller and for releasing said switch memberindependently of said operating member.

9. In a switch, a hinged operator, ahinged switch arm, a link hinged tosaid operator, a link hinged tosaid sw1tch arm, a hinge jointconnectingsaidlinks, a thermostatically operated member for supportingsaid joint and releasingsaid switch arm independently of said operator,and a spring for reversing the position of said links. 7 10. In a switcha movable switch member, an operating-member, a'double jointed connection between. said switch member and said operating member,'a handlefor moving and operating member and thermostatic means engaging saiddouble jointed connection for operatlng said switch member independentlyof said operatin handle.

. 11. In a switch a movab e switch member,

an operating member, a double toggle connection between said switchmember and said operating member, thermostatic means engaging one partof the toggle and a hau d'le connected to another art of the tog le. 1

' 12. In'a switch, a mova 1e switch mem r,

an operating member, a double toggle 'connection between said switchmember and said operating member, a thermostatic means for supportingand, operating one part. of,

said toggle to open;thegcircuit,spring"meansfor restoring one part ofsaid, t3oggle member" its. mal .op a v pasi ic -giand ha for saidoperating.member.- I

'13. In a switch, .-eh-operating-memberglamovable switch memberpa toggleconnection btweenisaid switchimember andsaid operjatmg member, manualmeans for breaking 61A combination switch comprising a hinged switchmember, a hinged manually,

the joint of said toggle at one side of the toggle oenters andthermostatic means for breaking the joint of said toggle at the oppo-.site side of the said toggle= center and a spring oint connectionbetween said operatmg memberand said toggle connection.

Jswitchmember and said operating member,

a roller on said toggle connection, and a thermostatrc member serving asa bearing for said roller and as a means for tripping the switch onoverloaded circuit conditions. ll

15. A hinged operating lever, a hin ed;- switch arm, a stationarycontact, a dou 1e jointed toggle link connecting said lever and saidarm, means for holding said lever and said toggle in an approximatelystraight line 2? when said arm engages saidcontact, and athermostaticmember for moving said toggle link independently, of said lever Whilesaid lever is in, the closed circuit position.

" BENJAM iI E. GETCHELL.

